Walk Me Down The Aisle
It was a beautiful autumn season at the wedding day of Danni's friends. She got up from her table to refill her glass of champagne, and as she walked past the head table, she saw Scott sitting there. They exchanged polite smiles, but didn't talk much. Danni had seen Scott before, but had never really talked to him. She knew he was an actor, but chose to keep quiet about it, because she wanted to get to know the real person behind the fame. Over the weeks, they started to enjoy each other's company, and seem to still seeing each other at weddings. Scott never knew that Danni was a writer in the movie industry, and Danni never told him. She enjoyed the anonymity of being able to observe him without him knowing who she really was. One day, while in their hiding place, Danni opened up to Scott about how she was feeling. She told him that she had developed feelings for him over the passed months and wanted to explore a relationship with him. Scott was hesitant at first, because of his past heartbreak, and wasn't sure if he was ready for another relationship. But with Danni's persistence and patience, they started seeing each other and fell in love. They had a whirlwind romance filled with laughter, passion, and adventure. Danni was happy, and she felt like she had finally found her soulmate. She loved him so much that she decided to write a book about their love story. It became a bestseller and the spotlight was on them. But then something happened that she never saw coming. Scott was disappointed about the book, and his father was filled with anger towards her. Scott felt like his privacy had been invaded, and he became distant from Danni. She tried to reach out to him, but he wouldn't respond. She felt like she had lost him forever. But doon reconciled but it was too late. Years went by, and they were both at a mutual friend's wedding again, with their own partners. They locked eyes from across the room and smiled with the idea of their past. They didn't exchange words, but they both knew that they were happy in their own lives. Danni looked over to her companion and felt thankful for everything she had. She still loved Scott, but she knew that they were just characters in each other's stories now. She realized that sometimes, life doesn't go as planned, and the person you thought was your happily ever after, wasn't meant to be. But she was grateful for the memories they shared, and for the love that had filled her heart for a time. As the night went on, Danni realized that sometimes, the best love stories don't have endings that make sense. And sometimes, the best love stories are the ones that you hold in your heart forever.
Chapter Eighteen
Despite my ambition and the pursuit of my dreams, I have never resorted to using anyone as a means to achieve my goals. It just so happened that I crossed paths with Scott, the person I admire the most, and getting to know him on a personal level only intensified my affection. Deeply caring for him beyond his fame, I found myself falling even more in love with him. To document the reasons behind my affection, I poured my heart into a book, chronicling our journey from the very beginning.
However, I purposely withheld certain elements about it, and kept from from mentioning any names, including his, or any of his friends and family within these pages.
To my astonishment, my boss somehow tended to re-read the entire manuscript and began suspecting that I was somehow referring my story to an actual person within its pages.
"Tell me, is it you? Are you the woman in this book, Danni?" Mitch questioned, with curiosity, and I couldn't bring myself to admit the truth. "I have no idea what you're talking about," weaving my web of lies. But Mitch's insistence grew, and a touch of anger colored his tone. "I don't need to repeat myself, Danni. Deep down, you know exactly what I mean."
A surge of guilt washed over me after then, and I decided to come clean. "Yes, it's me," I confessed firmly, unable to maintain my facade any longer.
And now that I had acknowledged my role in the book, Mitch wasted no time bombarding me with questions. "Did all those occasions happen when you were on vacation in Austin? In Hawaii? And you met this famous Hollywood actor? Who is it?"
I averted my gaze, overwhelmed with regret. "It was Scott Clinton," I confessed, my voice tinged with remorse.
Citing Scott Clinton's name triggered an outburst of acrimony and shock from Mitch. His emotions were tangible. No matter what I say or do now, I cannot undo what has already been written and published. The book is about to be sent out, and there's no going back. As I glanced at my boss, disappointment still etched across his face, I couldn't help but draw parallels to the disappointment I had caused David.
But everything changed for us when my book skyrocketed to become a bestselling novel. Suddenly, my boss began speaking to me again, his excitement evident as he reveled in the success brought about by my supposed "stupidity."
"Have you finalized the script for this book?" Mitch questioned, his tone almost pleading, desperately hoping that I had completed the task. But as I faced him, I come to realize something and uttered the sentence I lately knew was rather full and not just a way of excuse. "No," I confidently replied, "I've decided that turning his story into a ridiculous movie isn't what I want. It should stay within the book."
"But you could earn so much more if we turn this book into a film. That was our strategy from the beginning, remember?" Mitch sarcastically countered, clearly not concerned about the integrity of the story or Scott's perception of being the protagonist.
Nonetheless, I agreed to remake my book into a movie, still dubious about it. After all, I felt compelled to do so, as Mitch always hungered to showcase his connections with film producers and bask in the admiration of his friends in the industry. My options were restricted, and I found myself succumbing to his desires despite my reservations.